Court backs social workers’ right to strike

A group of social workers have been given permission to
strike by the high court despite council claims that industrial
action could have potentially fatal consequences for service users,writes Natasha Salari.

In a ballot held by Unison earlier this month 35 approved social
workers (ASWs) opted for industrial action following disputes with
the city council over backdated pay.

Last week, a judge granted the council a temporary injunction
banning the strike, but high court judge Mr Justice
McKay overturned the court order and gave the social workers the
go-ahead to take industrial action.

Richard O’Dair, for the council, had argued that giving the ASWs
permission to strike could lead to some service users with mental
health problems being “unable to obtain the emergency care
they need”, with potentially “fatal
consequences”.

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